Fire extinguisher



Patented July 18 I939 STATES PATENT OFFICE M Claim.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers and more particularly to fire extinguishers of the portable type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher which will automatically operate with the rise in the temperature caused by fire, to the end that ilre extinguishing liquid will be released, extinguishing the fire.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher of the portable type having a valve which may be manually operated to release the extinguishing liquid, should it be desired to remove the fire extinguisher from its hanger for use in the hands of the operator in extinguishing a fire.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a valve held in place by a fusible plug, the construction of the valve being such that the fusible plug may be readily and easily replaced to reset the valve, by persons unfamiliar with V mechanics.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of con- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a tire extinguisher constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragments] sectional view through the extinguisher, illustrating the valve as moved to release the extinguishing liquid contained in the tank or body portion of the extinguisher.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the tanlr or body portion of the extinguisher is indicated generally by the reference character 5, and as shown, the tank is provided with a neck ii'formed with internal threads to accommodate the valve proper l.

This valve l comprises a hollow body portion 8 formed with an annular flange 9 disposed at its outer end. The outer end of the body portion 8 is formed with internal threads to receive the removable plug H) ofthe valve, so that the removable plug may be readily and easily positioned or removed from the body portion 8. The plug In is also formed with an annular flange ll that has its periphery knurled so that it may be readily gripped by the operator to rotate the ti plus. The flanges 9 and ii are formed with openings adapted to register for the reception of a sealing wire H, which is of a construction to be readily destroyed and removed by a tool such as a screwdriver or the like.

A bore is formed longitudinally of the removable plug id, and is of a diameter to accommodate the valve stem Ill which is hollow, the outer end thereof, being open. Openings it are formed in the valve stemJI3 near the outer end of the W valve stem, and afiord means whereby the fire extinguishing liquid passing into the hollow valve stem it, may be discharged therefrom. Open" ings indicated by the reference character it establish communication between the hollow valve stem it and interior of the valve y t, to the end that fire extinguishing liuuid passing into the hollow body portion b, may pass into the hollow valve stem [13.

Formed on the inner end or the valve stem it. is the valve head it which is tapered to flt into a tapered opening or valve seat iormedin the inner end of the valve body portion 3, as shown by Figure l of the drawing.

The bore formed in the removable plug i0, is enlarged at its outer end, for the reception of the iusible member ll, which is positioned against the outer end of the valve stem id holding the valve stem and valve head it in their active noeltions, to prevent the how of fire extinguishing liquid from the tank or body portion 5, der normal conditions.

The reference character it designates a threaded tubular member fitted in the enlarged portion oi the bore of the removable plug. onings it are formed in the wall oi the tubular member it at a point above the outer end of the tubular member, so that when the fusible member l'i melts or is destroyed by the heat caused by a fire, the valve stem it will move downwardly, the outer end of the valve stem resting against the cap 20 that closes the outer end of. the tubular member it, allowing the fire extinguishing liquid to exhaust through the openings l9.

- In order that the valve l will be held m its proper adjusted position within the neck of the tank 5, a set screw 2| is provided, which extends through the neck 6,-contacting with the inner end of the valve.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown anddescribed, the fire extinguisher forming the subject matter of the present invention, may be supported in any desirable position, by the usual bracket, the construcdill till

dill

tion of the valve being such that the valve will automatically operate to release the fire extinguishing liquid, under abnormal heat. It will of course be understood that the fire extinguishing liquid when placed in the tank or body portion of the device, is under pressure, to operate the valve, when the fusible material is dissipated by the abnormal heat.

Should it be desired to use the extinguisher as a portable or hand device, it may be readily removed irom its hanger and the plug closing the outer end of the valve body, removed or loosened sufficiently to allow the valve to disengage its seat, releasing the tire extinguishing liquid.

I claim:

1. In a portable automatic lire extinguisher, a tank, a hollow valve body mounted in the mouth of the tank, and having a valve seat, a valve member normally closing the valve seat, a hollow valve stem carrying a valve at its inner end and adapted to normally close the valve seat, said valve stem having openings whereby fire extinguishing liquid may pass from the valve stem, a plug removably held in one end of the 25. hollow valve body, a fusible member held by the plug and against which said valve stem engages and said valve adapted to move to its open position releasing fire extinguishing material when the plug is rotated in one direction, or when the fusible member melts.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a tank, a hollow valve member removably mounted in the mouth of the tank and having a valve seat, a removable plug extending into the hollow valve member and having a threaded bore, a hollow valve stem operating through the hollow valve member and having openings adjacent to the inner and outer ends thereof, a valve on the inner end of the valve stem and normally engaging the valve seat closing the tank, a tubular member fitted in the threaded bore and having 

